Development of a Portable Oxygen Concentrator for Continuous Oxygen supply during air transport

Background:áHemorrhage is a leading and largely preventable cause of death in traumatic scenarios, affecting both military personnel and civilians. While Damage Control Surgery (DCS) and Damage Control Resuscitation (DCR) have been shown to significantly reduce trauma-related fatalities, their implementation in remote and severe environments is challenging due to resource limitations. This challenge is particularly acute in military settings, where the distance to adequately equipped medical facilities can result in increased casualties. The Special Operations Forces (SOF) Surgical Resuscitation Team (SRT) faces significant obstacles in maintaining a continuous oxygen supply during air transport of trauma patients, including space and weight constraints, safety risks associated with oxygen transport, and technical limitations of current oxygen supply systems.Objective/Hypothesis:áThe objective of this project is to develop a rugged, portable oxygen concentrator (POCO) that operates via pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology, addressing the critical needs of air medical services in trauma care scenarios. We hypothesize that by optimizing the design and functionality of the POCO, we can overcome the current limitations of oxygen supply during air transport, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of DCS and DCR in remote and severe environments.Specific Aims and Milestones:áThe proposed project will focus on Defining key requirements for UX/UI, software, electronics, and mechanical systems; developing and finalizing subsystem architecture and updating hazard analysis; Designing and developing core subsystem components, followed by integration and testing; Production of samples of the mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems; áConducting verification and validation testing.Milestones: Completion of system requirement specification and architecture definition; delivery of fully integrated units for verification and validation (V&V) testing; and completion of documentation, risk management, and submission of regulatory filings.Project Design:áThe project will involve a systematic approach to optimize zeolite volume, select optimal zeolite chemistry, ensure compressor performance, and minimize heat dissipation. Specifically, development will proceed through a series of iterative design, prototyping, and testing phases.áImpact and Military Relevance:áThe successful development of the POCO will significantly enhance the ability of medical teams to deliver continuous oxygen therapy during air transport and in remote locations. Additionally, the POCOÆs modular, rugged design will reduce lifecycle costs and increase operational reliability, making it a valuable asset in both military and civilian trauma care.á